dirty Copper triangle variation

Been wanting to do this ride for a while. The weather looked good for it and it was hotter than hades in Boulder. So it was time to get high!

ski area boundary. Entrance to a great ride!

flowers are going off!

Searle Pass

down from Kokomo

moar flowers..

This is the variation, instead of climbing Resolution road I took zrm's advice and tried McAllister gulch. This climb is shorter than Resolution but steeper - sections from 20 to 30 degrees. Make sure you have the proper mindset if you do this and maybe do this climb early in the day when you have lots of energy to push your bike. This route does have some shade though as it climbs through the trees.

It's nice when you get on the ridge.

Where the road bends northwest I headed through the rocks towards the Fowler/Hilliard hut.

Columbines in the cherty limestone.

Passing by the hut some guys were relaxing on the deck. One said "you look like you could use a drink!"
I said I wouldn't pass one up! So he poured me a glass of scotch. Nice way to toast a ride even though I wasn't quite finished.

This is where I joined up with Resolution road - a bit before Ptarmigan Pass. Once over that a nice cruise back to Copper.

Last edited by cocavaak; 07-31-2013 at 08:05 AM.

"Don't take life so serious, son . . . it ain't no how permanent." - Porky Pine

Re: dirty Copper triangle variation

34 miles. Moving time was 7 hours, stopped time was 2.5 hours - taking lots of pictures at a leisurely pace. And scotch drinking. I think it took 2.5 hours to climb from Copper to Searle. Another hour to Kokomo. The grunt up McAllister Gulch was slow.

"Don't take life so serious, son . . . it ain't no how permanent." - Porky Pine